Andorra Tribunal Upholds Citizenship for Togolese Woman Despite Travel Breaks

Andorra's Superior Tribunal has confirmed a lower court decision obliging the government to grant citizenship to a Togolese woman who satisfied the 10-year residency requirement, despite periods of overseas travel.

The resident, who arrived in the Principat in July 2002, completed primary and secondary education locally before studying at university in France—a time that counts toward residency under the law. She applied for a passport in 2023, believing she met the threshold for those educated in Andorra.

The executive rejected the application, arguing that trips abroad between the end of her studies in June 2022 and her return to work in March 2023—spanning about nine months—broke the continuity of her stay. Officials claimed she made consecutive journeys, including to Argentina, Portugal, and the United States, without returning, creating a "clear break" in her principal residence.

The woman contested this, asserting she returned home to her parents' house in Andorra between trips. The Batllia ruled in her favor in first instance, and the Superior Tribunal dismissed the government's appeal.

Judges found she credibly proved her presence through credit card charges at local businesses, such as Piscina Muntanya, Borda Pairal, Mango Escaldes, and Hiper Andorra. The tribunal dismissed the executive's point that payments came from a French account, stressing that transactions at Andorran establishments demonstrated her stays. It also noted she could return by private vehicle, not just bus, and confirmed her subsequent CASS employment record.

The ruling deems her family residence uninterrupted during studies and validates the overall 10-year period.